Laser, Electrolysis or Electric Razor?

[Lisa_W]

Hi Melissa
I share your dilemma. I have had several attempts with IPL to remove hair from the “snout” area. To my understanding the effectiveness depends on the type of machine used & the experience of the operator.

Electrolysis is the only proven permanent hair removal treatment. There are now various forms – single or multi-channel. Again the effectiveness depends on the experience of the operator. I have heard horror stories of unacceptable scarring caused by electrolysis. So please do your homework well before you embark on this therapy.

As regards analgesia – if you have a “tame” dentist then he/she may be persuaded to anaesthetize the upper lip area for you. Locally applied creams and gels are a waste of your money.

Good luck on your journey.

Lisa

[Anonymous]

Hi Melissa,

I can only speak from personal experience.

I initially tried laser, spent a lot of money, it was partly successful in removing a small amount of facial hair, but the greater majority of hairs the treatment turned them all grey. The laser treatment finally became ineffective on me because the laser will not treat grey hairs. I moved onto Electrolysis for that reason.

I personally have had a great deal of success with Electrolysis, its taken a little over 2 years and I have now not shaved my face at all in the last 6-7 months, I have had basically no noticeable scarring.

Electro is a very slow time consuming process, there is some pain, I did not need and creams or the like, I did not find the pain unbearable, it just hurt more in the more sensitive parts of the face. And over time it ends up being expensive. For me I feel the results have been worth it for the time taken and the expense. However the results will differ for everyone, it may take more or less time for you as there are so may variable factors.

As Lisa suggests go to an experienced operator recommended by someone if you want to try it, Don’t expect results after your first few sessions, it takes time.

Hope this helps

[bee]

I had a year (12) seasons of Light Pulse procedures which had little effect then I started on 4 years of electrolysis.

The electrolysis procedures were done at
Sima’s Beauty & Electrolysis Center
Ella Bache Beauty and Electrolysis (Blend & Thermo)
http://www.simas.com.au/
Brisbane QLD

May 20 2010 entry…

Well at nearly 250 hours of facial electrolysis and after nearly 3 years, I can say I think there is some perceived hair reduction. When I started this I had read it can take up to 300 hours and well that is what it seems to have been for me. As readers will know before electrolysis I tried IPL, SIPL and ELOS high intensity light treatments for a year (12 sessions). These treatments were not effective for me.

The facial hair removal can be the single most costly procedure that trans people go through and this is true for me. I often get asked about the cost and of course this depends on the cost of the clinic you attend. But in my case it is this:

$2.50 / min = $150/ hour x 250 hours = AUD$37,500

To put this in perspective all of my surgical expenses (including International airfares, accommodation meals etc.) was AUD$45,000

Also having electrolysis does cramp your lifestyle as you have to be ‘furry’ for the technician to have a hair to pull out after zapping. For me this meant not being able to go out 3 days a week prior to the procedure. After 3 years this becomes a bit tiresome.

All I can say is if you are considering a lot of electrolysis is to start saving and keep your job.

If you have stubborn hair it may be viable to buy a machine (about $2000) and pay for the training of an operator give it to them and let them start their own business in place for free treatments for you. I am not joking!

Each hair may need to be be zapped many many times, before they die – this is what takes the time. Everyone is different of course, all I am relating is my personal experience.

Pain> everyone is different but if pain is an issue then a topical gel might help. I found the locally available EMLA cream expensive and non effective for me. I imported a gel that requires no clear film over it from Florida USA http://www.greencaine.com

This link may be helpful

http://www.transgendercare.com/electrolysis/methods/overview_methods.htm

In regard to razors: I still think a non electric razor will give a closer better result as the cutting blades are not inhibited by anything.

[Anonymous]

I think its a case of everyone is different, this is my experience.

i had some time on my side so i started early,
I had 15 treatments every 6-8 weeks on my face and neck at Nads laser clinic over the course of 2 years, this was totally effective in clearing my neck, chin and side of my face, and partially effective on my upper lip, I have a mole there so they didnt go nuts there, and rightly so.

I then started electrolysis to clear the rest, each session only takes 45 min to clear every remaining hair, including white hair. I have only had 3 sessions so far, but judging by whats left, i dont expect many more.

Beth

[Melissa_Mills]

Thankyou for your replies.
The laser sessions that I have at the moment take about 10-15 mins to do so it works out to about $10 per minute so I’ll take $2.50.
I realise that pain is subjective so I guess the only way to find out how it would affect me is to give it a go.
Since starting laser (the first two were IPL), I have noticed a lot of grey hairs coming through on my chin and neck but that might have occured on its own anyway had I not started these treatments.

Melissa

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Im one of the older ones here so at allmost 64 Ill say lazer was a waist of time tho i only spent 300 $ & the little i had done was not worth it i stoped because i knew it would not work. this was 0ver 4 years ago.

my saveing grace in many details of my life has been my age, in some aspects more like not.. yea well. no matter.

because im a woman = intersex this has helped as well. & the hormones im on as well . so all up my body hair is about 10 % or less , so even now i only eperlate about every 10 weeks or so my hair is just as a normal woman .
My face is a bit different a lot finer & whiter, so a very soft shave with elc shaver is all i need , other than that i’m not that bothered,

As we say we are all different .

There is a detail tho . many say before you transistion have the hair on your body done first.

Okay ill say start your hormones first because they will help you far more than you realise & i have that experance to back that up. ,

as I said we all react to meds differently . only you can sift through the info . & then decide i wont say what any one shouild do. concerning this because theres a lot of money at stake.

Any way for what its worth or not this is my background .

…noeleena…

[Melissa_Mills]

I ended up going to see Sima today and what started out as just a case of finding out where it is and what is involved, became having a go at electrolysis and now I know how painful it is (and I found it very painful)
It is not pleasant by any means but at this stage, I just see myself just gritting my teeth and putting up with the pain.
Sima is lovely, we had a nice chat and I did end up telling her about how I found out about her place (thanks Bambi).
If its something that can lead to a definate ending timeframe, then it will be money well spent. I havent been able to see an end in sight across the various laser options that I’ve tried.
See what happens I guess

Melissa

[Melissa_Mills]

So it seems I’m likely to end up spending a lot more money, experiencing a lot more pain and it will more than likely drag on (knowing my luck) for months, if not years.

I’ll give it a fair go and then see where I stand

Mel

[Anonymous]

Just thought that I’d toss my two bob’s worth in. It seems that most haven’t had a lot of success with laser. I’d hate for someone for whom laser could be successful to miss out on what has been a successful treatment for me. Most people will know that laser won’t zap the light hair, but if you have dark hair and light skin like me you can get a good result in about 7 visits. The top lip is a bit more persistent than the rest but is nonetheless thinning out. I can now go out with a quick dusting of blush rather than a pancake on my face-and I can devote more time to getting the eyes and lips right.

Given that laser is a lot less expensive than electrolysis it’s probably the best way to start. If it’s not successful then move on to the more expensive option.

[Anonymous]

I agree with Felicity_Lane. I have had 5 sessions so far & IPL has worked on my darker hairs, just leaving some lighter hairs for me to focus on, so if uou do have dark facial hair, & pale or lightskin then IPL will probably work.

[Anonymous]

Hi girls

I would agree with Noleena i stsrted taking hormones for 2 months before starting hair removeal i baught a package of 10 laser hair removeal sessions had 4 sessions done then started electrolysis the black hairs wer disapearing at a great rate of knots with the laser and the electrolysis was taking care of the grey ones what im doing is having electrolysis then a few days later having the laser done what ive found is the laser helps to rejuvenate the skin as well but the hormones have softened the hairs and made them easyer to remove as well all in all my face is looking not to bad
regards
love chrissie

[Melissa_Mills]

After two treatments so far I see that while there is regrowth, its slowed down dramatically and what hair I have has been turned either grey or blonde (I havent studied it that closely, its a very light colour either way) so that has enabled me to be able to leave it and not shave it for two weeks with the sessions being every week so far.
Eventually I guess I’ll have to shave it for work but hopefully that wont be for a while.
I cant sustain paying for this for too long but will give it a fair go

[Melissa_Mills]

There is a fair amount of regrowth happening in a week since the last treatment session but at least its kind of a whispy sort of hair thats light in colour so its really annoying that is doesnt seem to be slowing down but there still is plenty of it. But I realise its only been 3 goes….

So what I’d like to know now is for those of you who’ve undergone electrolysis, what did you find with amount of treatments that you required? what sort of regrowth between treatments, did the fact that you were/werent taking any hormones type of products play any part in the amount of treatments that you required or the effectiveness of those treatments?

Mel

[bee]

Hair can be very stubborn. I have lost count how many times each section has needed to be treated for me, but as I am only doing facial hair and it has so far taken over 270 hours you can imagine it is many many times for me.

Each time the hair becomes weaker and eventually dies – this is the process.

For me taking or not taking hormones has played no part in facial hair reduction. As you know hormones do not affect facial hair growth at all (unfortunately). What hormones did for me was to make my skin more sensitive and therefore the electrolysis procedure more painful. That is why I suggest members start electrolysis before starting hormones if they can.

Facial hair removal can be a long process (I have been doing it for 4 years….)

[Anonymous]

Hi Mellissa

Keep going with the electroysis sessions Mellissa youl get there it will take time and money .Me personly im not a verey hairy girl but ive had about 10 to 12 sessions of electrolysis followed by laser hair removeal between sessions of electrolysis i am on hormones. I feel that the hormones have soffened the hair a little bit but i would agree with Bambi the hormones have softened my skin and allso made the electrolysis more painfull and yes sima does my face too at upper mt gravatt

kind regards
Chrissie